4wd stuck..?

[JessicaRabbit]

I'm looking at buying an 87 Subaru and when I test drove it I couldn't get the 4wd lever back into fwd. Not sure if I was just doing it wrong but it seemed pretty self-explanatory (Push in clutch and push lever into FWD position...) She said she had used the 4wd recently and that it worked fine for her. Is this a common problem and is it a dealbreaker? The lady wants 1,400 for it and other than the shifting thing, I'm in love with it...

[idosubaru]

love is fickle, don't buy it.

 

seriously....it *should* be a simple fix.

 

you're saying the actual lever itself wouldn't move? was the car on/off, moving/sitting? did you move the car a little then try again?

 

if i was interested in the car i would disconnect the linkage underneath and actually move the 4WD lever by hand. follow the linkage from the shifter and it's on the passengers side of the trans, just behind the front wheel so to speak. if the lever moved in and out of 4WD just fine i'd consider anything else a simple fix and not let that deter me from getting it....though that's a good point to offer less on if the 4WD isn't actually working properly.

[capn_r]

My guess would be that the drivetrain is bound up. If so it should be as simple as backing up some or worst case jack up a rear wheel and see if it frees up and comes out of four wheel drive.

[nipper]

I'm looking at buying an 87 Subaru and when I test drove it I couldn't get the 4wd lever back into fwd. Not sure if I was just doing it wrong but it seemed pretty self-explanatory (Push in clutch and push lever into FWD position...) She said she had used the 4wd recently and that it worked fine for her. Is this a common problem and is it a dealbreaker? The lady wants 1,400 for it and other than the shifting thing, I'm in love with it...

 

 

Welcome to 4wd 101.

 

A 4wd car should never be put in 4wd on dry pavement, in addition the sterring whel should not be turned while the car is moving in 4wd on dry ground.

 

This car has classic torque bind, and it is not the cars fault. In addition, there most likley is nothing worng with the car.

 

The front axle and rear axle of a car spin at differnt speeds unless you live in a square state and never make a turn. This differnce in speed in an AWD car is permitted by using a center diff or something like that (in subarus a clutch pack in autos).

 

 

When this slip is not allowed to happen the driveline binds up and everything locks up.

 

How to fix it?

 

Easy.

 

Jack up the car. it is that easy.

 

this allows for the torque to be released and everything will be frfee to move.

 

I made the same mistake on my first 4wd sooby.

 

And watch out for the virgin switch.

 

 

nipper

[Fairtax4me]

Not sure on the soobs, but most on manual transfer cases the shift lever has a detent that keeps it from being accidentally pushed in or out of 4wd. Most of the time this is only for the LOW range setting, but occasionally I've seen it used for going between 2wd and 4wd. You simply push it to one side or the other which allows you to then push/pull the lever to the setting you desire.

 

I agree with Nipper on torque bind. Try getting the car on gravel or simply jacking up one wheel (probably a rear wheel if this is one of those with the parking brake on the front wheels) as already said, and that should relieve the tension on the axles and drivetrain so you can move the shift lever out of 4wd.